FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: PAC-10 earning some respect

The Pioneer Athletic Conference has been trashed by a lot of football fans and by more than a few media types in recent years for its postseason futility.

But the league — split right smack down the middle with five AAAA and five AAA schools — hasn’t been quite as bad as some may think. Yes, only four schools — Lansdale Catholic, Methacton (prior to joining the league), Pottsgrove and St. Pius X — have won district or sub-regional titles. Lansdale Catholic’s were in Class AAA and AA, while all of Methacton’s and Pottsgrove’s were in the AAA bracket, and Pius’ were in AA and A. And yes, until Spring-Ford’s three-game run this month, no one in the league had even won a game in the AAAA bracket.

However, if Spring-Ford pulls off what many think would be an upset Friday night against Coatesville, believe it or not, the PAC-10 — including past as well as current members — would be all even (45-45) in district and state playoff games.

“I don’t think it’s a secret that our league doesn’t get the respect (it) should,” said a PAC-10 coach who asked to remain anonymous. “We have had a few teams represent us well, but because we haven’t had much success in (Class AAAA) … I don’t know, maybe because of what Spring-Ford has done now it will change that for us.”

Lansdale Catholic, before leaving the PAC-10 five years ago, went 15-8 in the postseason. Among those wins were three district or sub-regional titles and one PIAA state championship. Methacton won its District 1-AAA title in 1995 while a member of the Suburban One Conference. Pottsgrove, which came up one win short of its fourth straight district AAA final this season, is now 15-9 with two district titles. And St. Pius X, which closed its doors just over two years ago, owned two sub-regional titles and finished up 5-5 in the postseason.

“Being (45-45) surprises me,” the coach said. “But until we start beating the big boys (in AAAA) I don’t know if the PAC-10 will ever get the respect (it) deserves.”

Using the current alignments, the Suburban One League — Continental (11), National (3) and American (1) — owns the most District 1-AAAA titles. The Ches-Mont League’s National Division has three (Downingtown two and Coatesville one). The Central League has the remaining two (both by Ridley).

The Central League, thanks to Strath Haven (10) and Garnet Valley (3), is far and away the District 1-AAA leader with 13 titles. The PAC-10 has three, while the Ches-Mont American Division has two and the Suburban One League has two — one each in the American and Continental conferences.

* * *Best of Berks: Wilson (13-1) will have an opportunity to avenge its lone loss of the season on Friday night against Harrisburg (11-2). The Bulldogs lost to the Cougars, 21-13, in Week Two, but have won 11 in a row since. … Unbeaten Wyomissing — which has won 10 of its 13 games over teams with winning records this season, including last weekend’s 44-0 laugher over previously unbeaten Bermudian Springs — entertains Danville (11-2) on Saturday.

Unbeatens meet: The season will end for at least one more undefeated team this week. That would be either West York or Bishop McDevitt — both with 13-0 records — who meet Friday night in the District 3-Class AAA final. … Four of the remaining eight undefeated teams will play opponents with one loss this weekend.

Perspective: Three-time defending state champion Clairton now owns the Pennsylvania record for consecutive wins (60). Absolutely impressive, but not even halfway to the national mark. The Bears would have to win every game as well as every state title for the next six years to break the national record of 151 straight wins. That’s how many games De La Salle High School (Concord, Calif.) won in a row from 1992 through 2004.

Consistency: Only three of Pennsylvania’s 10 winningest programs over the past 10 years are still alive in the postseason. Not surprising, Clairton is on top of the list with its 123-15 record from the beginning of the 2003 season through last week’s games. District 7-AA Aliquippa (115-15) is tied with District 1-AAAA North Penn (115-22) for fourth; and District 3-AAA Bishop McDevitt (108-25) is tied for ninth. Defending Class AAA champion Archbishop Wood (107-22) is one win out of the Top 10. … The only other District 1 representatives inside the Top 30 are Ridley (104-23, tied for 13th), Pottsgrove (99-27, tied for 20th.), and Neshaminy (93-32, tied for 29th).